Ministry Rejects Tax Rumors
The Ministry of Finance said it has not imposed any new taxes or fees on commercial and service sectors or on professions, describing claims circulating on social media as inaccurate. The clarification was issued through its official channel on 11 October 2026.
The ministry urged citizens to rely on its official platforms for tax and financial information.
A Local Licensing Decision
The ministry traced the circulating material to Decision No. 57, dated 27 September 2026, issued by the executive office of the Azaz City Council in Aleppo governorate. The decision covers professional licensing and annual administrative fees.
Under that measure, commercial and service establishments were granted a one-year administrative license, with the fees set in US dollars (USD).
Local Fees, Not National Taxes
The ministry said such charges are local administrative fees collected by local units to fund local services, and are not new taxes. It stressed that central tax policy is set by national laws and decrees.
Local executive offices and councils, it added, do not hold the authority to impose new taxes.
New System in 2027
The ministry said a new tax system will be applied at the start of 2027. It described the system as offering incentives to businesses, easing the burden on low-income earners, and carrying what it called the lowest tax rates in the region.
The statement did not detail the rates or the scope of the planned system beyond those features. It framed the coming changes as part of a shift toward a clearer and more predictable tax regime for the private sector.
Call for Verified Information
The ministry asked the public to treat unofficial material with caution and to check tax and fee questions against its own published statements rather than social media posts.
It also called on platforms carrying the viral claims to verify information before publishing, saying inaccurate reports can distort how businesses read their obligations.